Branner



Feb. 3, 1942. F. c. BIGGERT. JR

BRANNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1940 TOR ATTORNEY I Feb. 3, 1942.F. c. BIGGERT. JR

BRANNER Filed Aug. :5, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR ATTORNEY fa; BY?!Feb. 3, 1942. F, HG ERT, R 2,271,537

BRANNER I Filed Aug. 3, 1940 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g5 (IN\ZNTOR ATTORNEYFeb. 3, 1942.

Filed Aug. 5, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1942. F. c.BIGGERT. JR

BRANNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1940 ATTORNEY INVENTOR JMA BY/QPatented Feb. 3, 1942 e a-me stares- Elo'rence 0.,Biggeli7, ,Jn,Pittsburgh, Pm, assignmto United Engineering andFoundry Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation 0f'Pennsylvania,

Application August 3, 1940; Serial No. 350,481.-

19 Claims.

This invention relates to: branning machines, and more particularly tomachines of this charactor which are: used forpolishing and oilingelectroplated: metal strip, such as tin-plated steel or the like.

It hasslong; been common practiceto use bra oritswquivalent forabsorbing most of the oil adhering to the surfaces of metal platesasthey 'leave-ahot tin-hing bath. The bran, by serving able for use.with? metalv strip, one reason being that theydo not .properlyapply thebran to both surfacesofthelstr'ip. Although bran isused'in both cases,itisfidesirableatousewith electroplated. metal, bran that has first beenused for oleaninghot coatedplates because such bran'is oily andtherefore applies enoughoil to the electro'plated metalto preventit fromrusting.

It is among: the objects of this invention to provide a b-ranningmachine which is especially suitable for use with electroplated metalstrip, which applies the bran' satisfactorily .to both" surfaces of:the: strip, which cleansthe bran from the strip beforeiti leaves themachine, which confines the bran to the machine so that it does notleak:out into the [surrounding atmosphere,

' into'the atmosphere around it the air. pressure insi'daof the housingismaintained less than that outsider Sufiicient air; is constantly withdrawn from the-housing for this purposeand, prefrablin'some of this-airis delivered to the conduits through -wh ic'h the bran is supplied tothe--1O11S.' The bran in the housing settles-to its bottom from: whichitiswithdraw'n and delivered 5 Ni? OFFICE;

back to the r bran-supplying conduits. Preferably, the withdrawing-meanscomprises av pair of conveyorscrews, one of which. extends. acrossthe-.bottom-of the housing and withdraws the bran from the. front endthereof while the other on is journaledabove 'itfor carrying the branfrom the front to the rear-of the housing so that it-will not" pile upin the front portion thereof. After the strip has passed the polishingrolls the bran 'on its upper-surface is positively removed; and thestrip then passes between finishing 1 roilsswhich increase thebrightness of its finish.

The preferredembod-iment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a plan vieW- of my branning machine; Fig; 2 is a sideView thereof; Fig. 3 is a view'of the entry end; Fig.- 4 is a verticallongitudinal section taken on the line IVIV of Fig.1; and Fig. 5 isavertical transverse section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring" tothe drawings, a framework l supports a plurality-or trainof pairs of superimposed polishing rolls 2 the necks of whicharejournaled in chucks3 removably mounted in a plurality oflongitudinally spaced windows t in the opposite sides of the framework:The rolls are made of suitable metal polishing material; each preferablybeing formed from a plurality --of axially aligned circular fabric disksas shown in- Fig. 5. Metal strip 6 is drawn under tension continuouslybetween the' upper' and lower rolls whichare driven at a highrate ofspeed ;by spindles'1 from a gear box 8 to which power is supplied byanelectric'motor 9. vary the pressure of the rolls against the strip theupper chucks, which, as shown in Fig. 5, are supported on coil springsII, are pressed downwardly by coil springs I2 compressed between themandthe lower "ends of vertical adjusting screws l3: threaded in the top ofthe framework. I

While the stripispassing between the rolls and being polished thereby,bran or an equivalent material is blown against the upper'and lowersurfaces of the strip by a plurality of vertical nozzles Iii disposedbetween the pairs of rolls. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4, anozzle is located in front of each lower roll with its outlet directedtoward the roll pass, but there need not be a nozzle beside each upperroll because bran will collect on the upper surfaceof the strip and passfrom one pair of rolls to the next. Each nozzle has a long narrow outlet(Fig. 5) fromwhichit tapers towardsits inlet that is connected to apneumatic tube I! through which bran is supplied to the nozzle in amanher to be described presently.

From the polishing rolls the strip passes between finishing rolls l3(Fig. 4) that are mounted in framework 5 in the same manner as the otherrolls and which impart a high luster or finish to the strip without theuse of bran. The finishing rolls are made of softer material than thepolishing rolls and are driven at a higher rate of speed. To remove thebran from the upper surface of the strip before it reaches the finishingrolls a clean-off screw 2| (Figs. 1 and 4) is journaled at its endsabove the strip in vertically adjustable bearing blocks 22 slidablymounted in the sides of the framework, and is driven from one end by aneletric motor 23 (Fig. 1). To form something in the nature'of a conduitfor this screw to operate in, barrier plates 24 and 25 are mounted onboth sides of the screw with their ends rigidly connected to bearingblocks 22. The bran piles up between these plates and is carriedlaterally over one edge of the strip by screw 2!. However, the screw andbarrier plates must be spaced a short distance from the strip to avoidscratching it, so to prevent a thin layer of bran from passing underplate 25 and reaching the finishing rolls a vertically adjustable brush26 is connected to the last plate and engages the upper surface of thestripthroughout its width. The bran that piles up against this brush maybe blown off the strip by an air jet 2?, indicated in Fig. 1.

To confine the bran to the machine the polishing rolls, nozzles,clean-off screw and brush are enclosed by a housing 3! supported byframework I and which has a hopper-like lower portion (Fig 5) into whichthe bran falls from the strip. As shown in Fig. 4;, journaled in thebottom of the hopper is a conveyor screw 32 that projects through thefront wall of the hopper and into an outwardly extending tubular member33. This screw is driven from its rear end outside of the housing by apower unit 34 so as to remove bran from the housing substantially asfast as it is blown into it by the nozzles. The thread of the screw istapered from the front of the hopper toward its rear end so that it willbite into and carry the bran and not merely bore a hole through it. Thebran is prevented from working into a pile toward the front of thehousing by another conveyor screw 36 journaled above the lower screw anddriven from its rear end from power unit 34 by a chain and sprocketdrive 37. As the thread of screw 36 is wound in opposite direction fromthat of screw 32, bran is carried by it toward the rear of the housingand thereby more evenly distributed therein. The bran is mixed in thehousing by paddles 38 attached at intervals to the thread of the upperconveyor screw. This agitation is especially desirable in order tofacilitate heating of the pile of bran in the bottom of the housing,such as by electric heating elements 39 mounted against its lowerportion, to keep the bran from caking and to insure that it will freelyrelease oil for coating the strip.

Tubular member 33 is connected by a collar 4| to an elbow 42 that leadsto the bottom of a casing 53 disposed at one side of the front end ofthe housing. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inlet ends of all of thepneumatic tubes ll, which are connected to nozzles [6, project into thiscasing. Mounted in the casing wall opposite to the tubes are a pluralityof jet members 45, one in axial alignment with each tube with theiradjacent ends spaced apart. The outer or inlet ends of these jets openinto a chamber it at the back of the casing which is connected by aconduit 41 with a blower 48 driven by a motor Thus,

air from the blower enters chamber 46 and.

passes out through jets 4 1 and into tubes l1. Air in casing 43 isentrained by the air streams between the jets and tubes and carried intothe tubes, and this can be regulated by screwing the exteriorly threadedjets forward or backward in the casing wall. l'he amount of air suppliedto the inlet of each jet can be controlled by valves in the form ofbolts threaded in the back wall of chamber 46 where their heads can bemoved toward and away from the jet members.

Bran is delivered to casing 13 from the end of the lower conveyor screw32 by air pressure, whereby the bran can be readily entrained with theair entering pneumatic tubes H. For this purpose chamber as is connectedby a pipe 52 to collar 4i so that some of the air that enters thechamber passes through it and mixes with the bran leaving the lowerconveyor screw. This aerates the bran which is then readily caught up byair streams entering the elbow 42 from a pipe 53 connected to a suitablesource of air under pressure. These air streams carry the bran into thecasing and help feed it into the tubes. To prevent this air from blowingback into the bottom of the housing through tubular member 33, thethread of the lower conveyor screw at the inner end of the tubularmember substantially fills that member and then tapers toward the frontend of the screw. By this means a gasket-like core of bran is formedbetween the screw and tubular member..

Another feature of this invention is that the bran that is blown bythe'nozzles into the housing is prevented from sifting out of it intothe surrounding atmosphere. Accordingly, the air pressure within thehousing is maintained less than that outside of it so that air can leakonly into it. To maintain this lower pressure in the housing it isprovided in its top above the cleanoif screw with an opening which isconnected by a duct 56 to the inlet'side of blower 48. Air is thusconstantly withdrawn fromthe housing, and the blower is of such capacityand is operated at such a rate that it will maintain a negative pressurein the housing. Not all of this air can be fed back to the housingthrough the nozzles because that would prevent maintaining the negativepressure. Therefore, a second conduit 51 leads from the blower to theatmosphere, and an air cleaner 58 is connected to this conduit toprevent bran from escaping. The bottom of the air cleaner communicateswith the inside of the housing, but communication is normally shut offby a valve 59. At suitable intervals of time this valve is opened topermit the bran that has accumulated in the cleaner to pass into thehousing where it can again be used.

It will thus be seen that 'electroplated'strip metal can be continuouslypolished and oiled in a very satisfactory manner by apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention, which is entirelyautomatic and requires no attention while in operation. The machine isclean to work around because the bran can not escape from it. The brantravels in a substantially closed circuit and therefore is used over andover again until it is no longer oily enough to oil the strip.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However,I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

Iclaim:

l. A branning machine comprising a pair of superimposed polishing rollsfor polishing metal strip passing between them, means for supplying branto the rolls, a housin enclosing the rolls, and means for maintainingair pressure in the housing less than that outside of it whereby thebran does not leak out of the housing and into the surroundingatmosphere.

2. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them,pneumatic means for supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing therolls, means for constantly withdrawing sufficient air from the housingto maintain the pressure therein less than atmospheric, and means fordelivering some of the Withdrawn air to said bran supplying means.

3. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them,pneumatic means for supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing therolls, means for constantly withdrawing suflicient air from the housingto maintain the pressure therein less than atmospheric, and a conduitconnecting said air withdrawing means and bran supplying means, saidconduit being provided with an exhaust opening for the escape of some ofsaid withdrawn air.

4. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishin metal strip passing between them, pneumaticmeans for supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls,means for constantly withdrawing sufiicient air fromthe housing tomaintain the pressure therein less than atmospheric, a conduitconnecting said air withdrawing means and bran supplying means, an aircleaner connecting said conduit with said housing and the atmosphere,and closure means between said cleaner and housing for normally shuttingoff communication between them.

5. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them,- ahousing enclosing the rolls, a casing, means for supplying bran to thecasing, conduits connecting the casing with the housing for supplyingbran to the rolls, air jets disposed in said casing and associated withthe conduits, means for constantly withdrawing sufiicient air from thehousing to maintain the pressure therein less than atmospheric, andmeans for conducting some of the withdrawn air to said jets whereby toaspirate the bran into said conduits.

6. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, ahousing enclosing the rolls, a casing, means for supplying bran to thecasing, conduits connecting the easing with the housing for supplyingbran to the rolls, air jets disposed in said casing in line with theconduits with their inlet ends projecting out of the casing, a chamberenclosing said inlet ends, means for supplying air to said chamberwhereby said jets aspirate the bran in said easing into said conduits,and means for conducting some of the air from said chamber to said bransupplying means.

'7. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs 'of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, meansfor withdrawing bran from the housing and delivering it to saidsupplying means, and means for maintaining air pressure less thanatmospheric in the housing whereby the bran does not leak out of thehousing and into the surrounding atmosphere.

8. A branning machine comprisin a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, aconveyor screw journaled in the lower portion of the housing forwithdrawing bran therefrom through its entry end and delivering it tosaid supplying means, and a second conveyor screw journaled in thehousing between said rolls and first screw for flufiing and conveyingbran toward the strip delivery end of the machine.

9. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, aconveyor screw journaled in the lower portion of the housing forwithdrawing bran therefrom through its entry end and delivering it tosaid supplying means, the thread of said screw being tapered in diameterfrom said entry and toward its rear end in the housing and a secondconveyor screw, having a plurality of paddles secured at spacedintervals thereto, journaled in the housing between saidrolls and firstscrew for fiufiing and conveying bran toward the strip delivery end ofthe machine.

10. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, atubular member projecting from the lower portion of the entry end of thehousing, a screw conveyor rotatably mounted in said tubular member andextending into the housing for withdrawing bran therefrom, a conduitconnecting the outer end of said tubular member with said bran supplyingmeans, and means for introducing air under pressure into said conduit,the thread of the screw in said tubular member substantially filling theinner end of the member and tapering outwardly therefrom.

11. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimpOsedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, aplurality of nozzles having open lower ends between the upper rolls, aplurality of nozzles having open upper ends between the lower rolls,pneumatic means for supplying bran to said nozzles whereby it is blownagainst said rolls and strip, and a housing enclosing the rolls andnozzles.

12. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, and a screw conveyor journaledtransversely of the strip in close proximity thereto beyond the lastpair of polishing rolls for removing bran from the upper surfac of thestrip.

13. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a screw conveyor journaled transverselyof the strip in close proximity thereto beyond the last pair ofpolishing rolls for removing bran from the upper surface of the strip, abarrier member disposed transversely of the strip beside said screwbetween it and the delivery end of the machine, and means for adjustingsaid screw and barrier member vertically relative to the strip.

14. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a screw conveyor journaled transverselyof the strip in close proximity thereto beyond the last pair ofpolishing rolls for removing bran from the upper surface of the strip,and a brush engaging and extending across the top of the strip adjacentthe screw between it and the delivery end of the machine.

15. A branning machine comprising a pair of superimposed polishing rollsfor polishing metal strip passing between them, pneumatic means forsupplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, a pair ofsuperimposed finishing rolls disposed outside of the delivery end of thehousing in tandem with the rolls therein for finishing the oppositesurfaces of the strip, and means comprising a screw conveyor journaledtransversely of the strip in close proximity thereto for removing branfrom the strip before it leaves said housing.

16. A branning machine comprising rolls for polishing the opposite sidesof metal strip, means for supplying bran to the rolls, a housingenclosing the rolls, means for withdrawing bran from the lower portionof the housing and delivering it to said supplying means, and means forheating the bran in the housing.

17. A branning machine comprising rolls for polishing the opposite sidesof metal strip, means for supplying bran to the rolls, a housingenclosing the rolls and provided with a lower portion having downwardlyconverging side walls, means for heating said side walls, and means forwithdrawing bran from said lower portion and delivering it to saidsupplying means.

18. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, aconveyor screw journaled in the lower portion of the housing forwithdrawing bran therefrom through its entry end and delivering it tosaid supplying means, a second conveyor screw journaled in the housingbetween said rolls and first screw for conveying bran toward thedelivery end of the machine, means connected to said second screw foragitating and mixing the bran, and means for heating the bran in thehousing.

19. A branning machine comprising a train of pairs of superimposedpolishing rolls for polishing metal strip passing between them, meansfor supplying bran to the rolls, a housing enclosing the rolls, meansfor removing bran from the strip before it leaves said housing, aconveyor screw journaledin the lower portion of the housing forwithdrawing bran therefrom through its entry end and delivering it tosaid supplying means, a second conveyor screw journaled in the housingbetween said rolls and first conveyor for conveying bran to the deliveryend of the machines, means connected to said second screw for agitatingand mixing the bran, and means for heating the bran in the housing.

FLORENCE C. BIGGERT, JR.

